THE LONG HELLO

After Van der graaf generator's fourth studio release "Pawn hearts" the band toured extensively in Italy from 1970 to 1972 (they did three Italian tours in six months). Pawn hearts, which among fans is considered to be the best Vdgg release, was really popular in Italy and held number 1 for 12 weeks in 1972. However, many factors such as the bad financial condition of the members, the lack of support from the record company as well as rioting audiences by different extremist organisations, from Red Brigade to neo-fascists lead Hammill to leave the band and continue his solo career.

The other Vdgg members (Guy Evans, David Jackson and Hugh Banton) would appear as session musicians in his solo records before Vdgg's reunion in 1975. Moreover drummer Guy Evans, organist Hugh Banton and saxophonist David Jackson started a project named "The long hello". They released an album in1974 featuring among other musicians the ex-Vdgg member, bassist Nic Potter. The project was put on hold when Vdgg reunited and was resumed when Vdgg split again in 1978.

-The music

The music is nothing great really. It's an instrumental album that can be listened when you invite people to your house. Most characteristics that made Vdgg such an amazing band are missing here like first of all Peter Hammill himself. Moreover the music is not like what Vdgg where doing. The dark dominant compositions are missing here and are replaced with meaningless compositions which are not that bad but compared with Vdgg's they seem weak, unemotional and uninspiring. Compared to Vdgg releases this one is very easy to digest. It's like jazzy-rock improvisations. Not that bad overall but nothing really worth listening many times. If you are a Vdgg fan and find this somewhere (I don't really think you will anyway) buy it! Good but not even close to Vdgg or even Peter Hammill's solo work. 3 stars!

Share this THE LONG HELLO review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to sularetal
• Report this review (#93754)
• Buy THE LONG HELLO music online with PA partners
• Show all THE LONG HELLO MP3/Stream
• Go to THE LONG HELLO page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to The Long Hello page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for THE LONG HELLO related discussions